The UK’s Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) has given preliminary approval for Microsoft to proceed with its $69 billion Activision Blizzard deal. The CMA had initially blocked the acquisition over cloud gaming considerations, however Microsoft not too long ago restructured the deal to switch cloud gaming rights for present and new Activision Blizzard video games to Ubisoft.
“The CMA considers that the restructured deal makes necessary modifications that considerably handle the considerations it set out in relation to the unique transaction earlier this 12 months,” the CMA stated in a press launch, and “opens the door to the deal being cleared.”
That is only a preliminary resolution, forward of ultimate approval. The CMA says it has now opened a session on Microsoft’s proposed treatments, till October sixth. A ultimate resolution is predicted earlier than the extended October 18th deadline.
A ultimate resolution is predicted earlier than the prolonged October 18th deadline
The session interval is supposed to deal with a number of remaining considerations that the CMA has with the deal. “Whereas the CMA has recognized restricted residual considerations with the brand new deal, Microsoft has put ahead treatments which the CMA has provisionally concluded ought to handle these points.”
Microsoft is understandably optimistic concerning the resolution. “We introduced options that we imagine totally handle the CMA’s remaining considerations associated to cloud recreation streaming, and we are going to proceed to work towards incomes approval to shut previous to the October 18 deadline,” Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith stated in an announcement printed by Reuters.
The UK is the ultimate regulatory hurdle for Microsoft’s large deal.